Kennedy and Johnson Administration Flashcards

New Frontier (JFK)

Proposed new social programs, faced Congressional Opposition to most of the programs but ideas and proposals survived after his assassination.

Medicare, support for education, and wilderness protection became part of Great Society (LBJ)

Peace Corps

established to help developing nations fight poverty

Civil Rights

JFK focus was on enforcing existing Civil rights laws rather than creating new legislation.

Civil Rights bill was passed after his death

Space Race

1962: John Glenn Orbits Earth

1969: US men landing on moon

Effects: Advances in technology (satellites, radio, TV signals, GPS, communication, solar cells)

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Kennedy continued w/ Eisenhower's plan to secretly train Cuban exiles to invade Cuba.

JFK refused to provide air power, Exiles were defeated by Cuban military, and foreign policy failure for JFK

Berlin Wall

1961: USSR began building Berlin Wall to stop the flow of people fleeing from East Berlin to West Berlin

1963 June: Kennedy gave speech in front of Berlin Wall challenging Soviet oppression and offering hope ("Ich bin ein Berliner; I am a Berliner speech)

Cuban Missile Crisis

Kennedy blockaded Cuba in response to USSR installing nuclear missiles in Cuba

13-day standoff between US and USSR led Americans to believe they were on the brink of nuclear war

Khruschev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy secretly agreed to remove missiles from Turkey

Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (LBJ; Great Society)

Provided adult education, employment, training programs and other benefits such as business loans and aimed to reduced poverty

Health and Welfare (Medicare and Medicaid)

Reflected New Deal ideals of providing benefits for Americans

Education

Provided money to elementary-HS and started HeadStart for disadvantaged preschoolers

War on Poverty

Improve life in inner cities: federal money to improve transportation, healthcare, and housing

Consumer and Environmental Protection

Development of standards and goals for water and air quality

The Vietnam War

Dominated LBJ's foreign policy and overshadowed his domestic policy